Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov made a resonant statement, accusing some residents of the region of trying to profit from shelling from Ukraine. During a meeting of the regional government on May 11, 2025, he reported that some citizens are deliberately exposing their cars to attacks in order to receive insurance payments or state compensation for damaged property. In addition, according to the head of the region, some residents are demanding evacuation from border areas, counting on resettlement to new housing at the expense of the budget. Gladkov's statement caused a wide public response and emphasized the difficulties that the authorities are facing in the context of ongoing attacks on the region.

Speaking to officials, Gladkov gave a specific example to illustrate the problem. He described an overheard conversation between relatives discussing a plan to roll an old car out of a garage in the hope that it would be damaged in a shelling. According to their calculations, this would allow them to receive compensation, since the car cannot be sold or used. The governor emphasized that such actions not only undermine trust in the system of support for victims, but also create an additional burden on the regional budget. He called on residents to abandon such schemes, noting that the authorities are doing everything possible to protect the region.